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A military school could be set up in every region of England under Labour to raise aspirations in poor areas.

Shadow education secretary Stephen Twigg wants to see the armed forces and service charities helping to run so-called "service schools". These would have a "distinct service ethos" and would employ qualified teachers, some with a forces background.

Mr Twigg says: "The armed forces can make important contributions to the nation not just on the battlefield but by embedding standards and values they embody within our social fabric. One way this can be achieved is through educational provision."

He said creating a "service ethos" in schools would emphasise "the importance of character formation and high ethical standards and values, as well as greater focus on advanced vocational skills.

As part of its education policy review, Labour is looking at how it could establish a network of what it is calling "service schools" within existing or new schools around England. It says if it comes to power it will establish one of these schools in each region of the country with a particular focus on "communities with the greatest social and economic need".

The involvement could be as sponsors of academies or by working closely with more traditional models of state schools.
A spokesman for the Department for Education said it was "already working to bring ethos and talents from Armed Forces into our education system to help raise standards".